SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Blaze had it in the bag. It was time to cash the check.
However, in a game that was unaffordable to lose, the Blaze squandered a 12-point lead to San Antonio in the fourth quarter at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday to drop their third consecutive game 64-61.
"This was a must-win," said Blaze coach Ron James. "Every game from here on out is a must-win for us. I thought the defense answered the call, I thought the special teams played extremely well but the offense was erratic."
Leading 54-42 heading into the final 15-minutes, Utah (6-5) was outscored 22-7 on its own turf. Yet, with 15 seconds remaining in regulation, the Blaze still had an opportunity to force overtime after Shaun Kauleinamoku returned a kickoff deep into San Antonio (8-3) territory.
"We had the situation in hand," James explained. "We had an option with 15 seconds to go to either get it in the end zone and win the game outright or line up for a field goal and take it into overtime."
The Blaze, at home, decided on the win. On the first play of the series, quarterback Tommy Grady, who was under constant pressure from the opening whistle, stepped up in the pocket to evade oncoming rushers. As he approached the line of scrimmage, Grady carelessly exposed the ball, allowing Talons' Victor DeGrate to slap down the game-deciding fumble.
"First down, in that situation, we cannot give up protection breakdown and we cannot be holding the football," James said.
Utah, with the chance to go ahead 21-14, after an over-the-boards TD reception by Aaron Lesue and Joe Mortensen's kickoff recovery off the nets, Grady misfired a telegraphed pass intended for Lesue on the 6-yard line that Talons' Fred Shaw took the other way.
San Antonio, following the turnover, embarked on field-length drive, behind quarterback Aaron Garcia, which culminated in an 11-yard Jomo Wilson TD catch in between two Blaze defenders, ending the first quarter at 14 apiece.
With 7:57 remaining in the first half, Garcia had just overthrown a high lob on fourth down and goal, but Utah was whistled for hands to the face to keep the drive alive. San Antonio captured the 21-20 lead on a Chad Cook 1-yard dive.
On the next drive, Grady mishandled the exchange from the center for the second time, resulting in a turnover at Utah's own 19 with five minutes and a few ticks left in the half. Chad Cook rumbled past the goal line shortly thereafter to give San Antonio the eight-point advantage.
Trailing by one, the Blaze scored on another Lesue TD on the opening drive of the third quarter. Tysson Poots returned the ensuing kickoff for the 40-28 lead.
Utah emerged from the locker room more technically sound on both sides of the ball, but specifically on offense – scoring on all four series for 27 points. Grady was 9-for-11 in the third quarter for 96 yards and three touchdowns.
But the Talons clawed back.
With 2:26 left in the fourth, San Antonio took its first lead of the second half on a 4-yard pass to Burl Toler from Garcia, and won the 2-point conversion in the wildcat formation.
Utah struck immediately when Lesue broke free with 1:22 remaining on an uncontested catch.
With 40 seconds left, Utah's Will Mulder jumped Garcia's pass in man coverage. Mulder was whistled for an offsides infraction along with a roughing the passer penalty.
San Antonio scored the go-ahead touchdown on Cook's third rushing touchdown that ultimately proved to be the game winner.